A17717:201
Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of GodSermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God
Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of God by Moses, otherwise called the Decalogue. Gathered word for word, presently at his sermons, when he preached on Deuteronomy, without adding unto, or diminishing from them any thing afterward. Translated out of French into English, by I.H.Sermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God by Moses, otherwise called the Decalogue. Gathered word for word, presently at his sermons, when he preached on Deuteronomie, without adding vnto, or diminishing from them any thing afterward. Translated out of Frenche into English, by I.H.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for John Harison, 1579London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Iohn Harison, 1579
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
When we shall have such a rule, it shall not need that we have any great volumes, to learn what it is to steal. For in one word, every one shall be able to know how to walk with his neighbours: namely, that he undermine not his neighbours maliciously, that he seek not to enrich himself at the cost and charges of an other, that he pull not unto him the substance and goods which are ⟨p. 72⟩not his own. There shall not need then but this word, and behold all the fair covertures, & best appearances we have, shall vanish away, and come to nothing. For when we shall have deceived men, we think we have also forthwith blinded Gods eyes. Let us take an example in this place, whereby this point shall be fully & perfectly understood. He which by law shall have gained the goods and possessions of another, thinketh that he is the justest possessor in the whole world. And why? Forsooth justice hath passed on his side. Now, not to say that justice was perverted (as it is to true that many by their corruptions & wicked practises, make of justice a mere spoil & robbery, overthrowing all right and equity) that Courts of justice shall be ofttimes as Fairs to sell the right of an other, & to pervert all equity. But be it that no such thing hath been in this case, but some man by his craft & subtlety hath found the mean so to draw unto him the goods of an other, that he will boldly say, All justice & right hath judged me this, so that there is no better or more just title in all the world, than is this. Lo a double thief before God. It had been better by many degrees that he had spoiled and robbed the house of his neighbour, than by law so unjustly to have gained the goods of an other. And why? There is theft committed: and again, this theft is done under the colour of justice, which is a sacred and holy thing. Verily God can not be able to suffer such a treachery. Sure burglary is worthy to be more grievously punished than other theft: but when we approach unto the seat which God hath dedicated unto his majesty, there to overthrow & confound all equity, behold, is not this an heinouser offence than any robbery? So then, let us diligently note, that what cloak soever we may take to cover our selves before men, the law of God always shall have his force:
When we shall haue such a rule, it shall not neede that we haue anie great volumes, to learne what it is to steale. For in one word, euerie one shalbe able to knowe how to walke with his neighbours: namely, that he vndermine not his neighbours maliciously, that he seeke not to enrich himself at the cost and charges of an other, that he pull not vnto him the substaunce and goods which are